He is credited for changing the Japanese entertainment industry, becoming the first non-comedian celebrity to have a career as a television host and expanding the capacity of a boy band.
[3] In December 2024 reports surfaced in Japanese tabloids that Nakai sexually assaulted a woman in her twenties in June 2023.
[20][21] Nakai had been working as a solo artist since the disbandment of SMAP in 2016, but left the Johnny & Associates at the end of March 2020 to set up his own private agency, Nobirinakai (のんびりなかい).
[22] In a press conference held on February 21, 2020, Nakai explained that the reason for his departure was that he had been burned out since the disbandment of SMAP in 2016, and after two years had passed, he became to think changing his environment in order to regain his passion once again, so he wanted to become independent even if it meant leaving the company that had taken care of him so well.
[28] However, he began to miss shows again around October of the same year due to health problems, and announced on December 2 that he was taking a leave of absence, returning to work on January 14, 2023.
He is the type of person who can do a lot of things because he loves to dance and learns hard," said Bobby Yoshino, who choreographed SMAP's debut song "Can't Stop!
"[36] After SMAP broke up in 2016, Nakai was never seen dancing, but on January 31, 2018, he made a surprise appearance at a concert held at Nakano Sunplaza by Busaiku, a junior group he was working with.
Nakai wore a white costume and appeared with a special version of "Fire & Lightning" and danced with the four members of Busaiku, earning cheers from the audience.
[39] Following its success, he established himself as a leading man, starring in many high-rated television series such as, Densetsu no Kyoushi (2000),[40] Shiroi Kage (2001),[41] Suna no Utsuwa (2004),[42] and Ataru (2012).
[46] The TBS TV music show Utaban, which began in 1996 to 2010, was hosted by Nakai and popular comedian Takaaki Ishibashi.
[52] In December 2024, reports surfaced in Japanese tabloid newspapers that Nakai allegedly engaged in nonconsensual sexual activity with an unnamed woman in her twenties in June 2023.
[53] He said he could not answer the details of the trouble due to confidentiality obligations that arose during the settlement, but denied some of the reported allegations, including violence, and added that he believed he could continue his career.
[58] Fuji TV also denied a report by the Shūkan Bunshun that one of its employees set up the date between Nakai and the woman.
[63][64] Over 50 Japanese companies reportedly pulled advertising from Fuji TV programs since the surfacing of the allegations, including Toyota, Nissan, Seven & I Holdings, Shiseido and Meiji Yasuda Life.
[65][6][66][30][67] Former SMAP members Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori provided a joint comment regarding the issue: "This happened so suddenly that we have yet to process it emotionally, we are at a loss for words.
"[68] Former SMAP member and current professional moto racer Katsuyuki Mori [ja] also sent a message regarding Nakai: "I was surprised to hear the news.
[70] During this press conference, Fuji TV stated that they still believed that the executive played no part in the incident, with the person having submitted evidence to back it up.
Shukan Bunshun goes on to say, "In subsequent articles, the report stated that the results of the subsequent interviews were reported.”[77][78] Sociologist Noritoshi Furuichi commented that in the past, it would have been accepted as "just another article in a tabloid magazine," but now that the Shukan Bunshun has the power to influence Japanese society, it is unacceptable to secretly correct misreporting."